1. A stenographic or electronic record must be kept of the hearing before the appeals officer and the rules of evidence applicable to contested cases under chapter 233B of NRS apply to the hearing.

2. The appeals officer must hear any matter raised before him or her on its merits, including new evidence bearing on the matter.

3. If there is a medical question or dispute concerning an injured employee’s condition or concerning the necessity of treatment for which authorization for payment has been denied, the appeals officer may:

(a) Order an independent medical examination and refer the employee to a physician or chiropractor of his or her choice who has demonstrated special competence to treat the particular medical condition of the employee, whether or not the physician or chiropractor is on the insurer’s panel of providers of health care. If the medical question concerns the rating of a permanent disability, the appeals officer may refer the employee to a rating physician or chiropractor. The rating physician or chiropractor must be selected in rotation from the list of qualified physicians or chiropractors maintained by the Administrator pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 616C.490, unless the insurer and the injured employee otherwise agree to a rating physician or chiropractor. The insurer shall pay the costs of any examination requested by the appeals officer.

(b) If the medical question or dispute is relevant to an issue involved in the matter before the appeals officer and all parties agree to the submission of the matter to an independent review organization, submit the matter to an independent review organization in accordance with NRS 616C.363 and any regulations adopted by the Commissioner.

4. The appeals officer may consider the opinion of an examining physician or chiropractor, in addition to the opinion of an authorized treating physician or chiropractor, in determining the compensation payable to the injured employee.

5. If an injured employee has requested payment for the cost of obtaining a second determination of his or her percentage of disability pursuant to NRS 616C.100, the appeals officer shall decide whether the determination of the higher percentage of disability made pursuant to NRS 616C.100 is appropriate and, if so, may order the insurer to pay to the employee an amount equal to the maximum allowable fee established by the Administrator pursuant to NRS 616C.260 for the type of service performed, or the usual fee of that physician or chiropractor for such service, whichever is less.

6. The appeals officer shall order an insurer, organization for managed care or employer who provides accident benefits for injured employees pursuant to NRS 616C.265 to pay to the appropriate person the charges of a provider of health care if the conditions of NRS 616C.138 are satisfied.

7. Any party to the appeal or contested case or the appeals officer may order a transcript of the record of the hearing at any time before the seventh day after the hearing. The transcript must be filed within 30 days after the date of the order unless the appeals officer otherwise orders.

8. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 9, the appeals officer shall render a decision:

(a) If a transcript is ordered within 7 days after the hearing, within 30 days after the transcript is filed; or

(b) If a transcript has not been ordered, within 30 days after the date of the hearing.

9. The appeals officer shall render a decision on a contested claim submitted pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 616C.345 within 15 days after:

(a) The date of the hearing; or

(b) If the appeals officer orders an independent medical examination, the date the appeals officer receives the report of the examination,

unless both parties to the contested claim agree to a later date.

10. The appeals officer may affirm, modify or reverse any decision made by a hearing officer and issue any necessary and proper order to give effect to his or her decision.

(Added to NRS by 1979, 1040; A 1987, 92; 1991, 2419; 1993, 740; 1999, 1786, 2219; 2001, 115, 1896; 2003, 2336; 2005, 239, 1269; 2007, 3355; 2009, 1286, 3035; 2011, 3422)